Improvement in apparatus for rectifying alcoholic spirits



PATENT EEIGE.

JAMES R. NEIL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FUR RECTIFYING ALCUHOLIC SPIRITS.

4 Speciication forming part of Letters Patent No. 119,943, dated October 17, 1871.

To all lwhom t may concern:

Be it known that I, J A11/nils It. NE1L, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Rectifying Columns, and the following is declared to be a correct description thereof.

This invention is designed to effect a more perfect separation ofthe alcoholic vapors; and consists in a column made of a series of concavoconvex chambers containing diaphragms applied in a vertical range and opening` into each other at or near the center, while the vapors pass through the liquid at the edges of the diaphragms. Thereby the vapors are subjected to the successive gradual cooling and condensing operations resulting from contact with the liquid of condensation in the respective chambers.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a vertical section, showing a portion of a rectifying-column; and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan at one side of one chamber.

The vapors from the still pass, by a pipe, a, to the lowest chamber of the rectifying-column. Each chamber is made with a convex bottom, b, and a concave top plate or disk, c, united at their edges, and between the top and bottom plate is the diaphragm cl, that is made with a range oi' openings, e e, at or near its edge. The couplings l connect one chamber to the next, and form the vapor-tubes. Pipes f lead from the diaphragm -d of one chamber down to the space above the diaphragm in the next chamber, and the upper end of this tube j is at the level desired for liquid above the diaphragm, so that when the same rises it will overflow and run back through the tubes f toward the still, passing thereinto by the pipe 7L from the lowest chamber in the column. It will now be apparent that the vapors from the still condense to a certain extent in the column, and that the liquid will remain in the annular gutter formed by the lower portion of each chamber, and that the vapors which are not condensed pass through the liquid and ascend by the openings around the diaphragm, a portion of the liquid being forced by the pressure up above this diaphragm, and overflowing by the pipe j' and passing to a lower chamber or to the still, to be redistilled until the spirit is evaporated. The pipes k and cocks connect with the lower part of each chamber, so that the liquid in the column can be drawn out or the column washed for cleansing' the same.

This column can be made of any desired height, and is cheap and durable, and in case of injury to any one section it can be removed for repair.

When this column is immersed in water it may perform the duty of a goose or doubler,7 as well as that of a rectifying-column; .and I remark that the required temperature may be maintained by any desired appliance outside the column.

I claim as my invention- The rectifying-column, made of chambers united to each other, and each chamber having a convex bottom, b, a concave top, a, a diaphragm, d, with openings around its edges, and a pipe, f, leading from one chamber to the other, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 31st day of May, A. D. 1871.

JAMES R. NEIL.

Witnesses:

HAROLD SERRELL, GEO. T. PINCKNEY. 

